Five people arrested in drug sting at Nashua rooming house

NASHUA - Five people - including the building manager of a local rooming house - have been arrested for allegedly selling and possessing heroin and other narcotics.Police said Christopher O'Riley, 35, of 29 Temple St., Apt. 104, was one of several people allegedly selling heroin from his apartment within the rooming house. O'Riley, the building manager, was receiving the drugs from a Massachusetts supplier identified as Kendrah DeHate, 31, of 29 Arch St., Apt. 1, Haverhill, Mass., police said.According to authorities, DeHate is accused of traveling daily from Massachusetts to Nashua to supply four occupants of the rooming house -- including the building manager -- with drugs that would be resold to street-level users throughout the city.Police are crediting anonymous tips and surveillance for initiating the drug investigation, which ultimately led to undercover operations within the rooming house and subsequent search warrants for at least two of the apartments.“The Nashua Police Department and the City of Nashua Code Enforcement Office will be continuing to investigate illegal activities at 29 Temple St. and take appropriate action,” police said in a release.The building manager, O'Riley, has been charged with two counts of the unlawful sale of heroin, second offense. He is being held on $75,000 cash bail.The alleged supplier, DeHate, has been charged with one count of possession of a narcotic drug, heroin, with the intent to distribute (in excess of five grams) and one count of possession of a controlled drug, marijuana. She was being held on $10,000 cash bail.Three other occupants of the rooming house were also arrested in the drug sting, according to police.Vernon Grant, 35, of Apt. 108, was charged with numerous offenses, including two counts of the unlawful sale of heroin, and one count each of possession of heroin, possession of Alprazolam, possession of Famotidine and possession of Viagra.He was held on $50,000 cash bail.Apryll Grant, 29, of Apt. 108, was charged with four counts of the unlawful sale of heroin, and one count each of possessing heroin, Suboxone, Alprazolam, Famotidine and Viagra. She was held on $100,000 cash bail.Samantha Brailsford, 25, of Apt. 104, was charged with one count of the unlawful sale of heroin, a felony. She was held on $25,000 cash bail.All five were arraigned in 9th Circuit Court, Nashua District Division.“These investigations were conducted by detectives of the Narcotics Intelligence Division over the last several weeks,” said police, adding the Drug Enforcement Agency's New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas task force assisted city police with the investigation.The rooming house on Temple Street was once the Nashua YMCA and currently rents more than 100 rooms.While the investigation continues into drug activity at the facility, police are urging the public to contact the Narcotics Hotline at 594-3597 to provide authorities with additional information about illegal drug activity in Nashua.khoughton@newstote.com